The state’s new collective bargaining law was defeated Tuesday after an expensive union-backed campaign that pitted firefighters, police officers and teachers against the Republican establishment.

In a political blow to GOP Gov. John Kasich, voters handily rejected the law, which would have limited the bargaining abilities of 350,000 unionized public workers.

Speaking to reporters, the governor congratulates opponents of Senate Bill 5. The Governor said he was not sure what he would do next, but promised to help local governments find “tools” to control their costs.

Click here to hear the Governor’s reaction in a report from Ohio Public Radio’s Bill Cohen.

Labor and business interests poured more than $30 million into the nationally watched campaign, and turnout was high for an off-year election.

The law hadn’t taken effect yet. Tuesday’s result means the state’s current union rules will stand, at least until the GOP-controlled Legislature determines its next move. Republican House Speaker William Batchelder predicted last week that the more palatable elements of the collective bargaining billâ€”such as higher minimum contributions on worker health insurance and pensionsâ€”are likely to be revisited after the dust settles.

Earlier this year, thousands of people swarmed the Statehouse in protest when the bill was being heard. The bill still allowed bargaining on wages, working conditions and some equipment but banned strikes, scrapped binding arbitration and dropped promotions based solely on seniority, among other provisions.

Kasich and fellow supporters promoted the law as a means for local governments to save money and keep workers. Their effort was supported by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business-Ohio, farmers and others.

We Are Ohio, the largely union-funded opponent coalition, painted the issue as a threat to public safety and middle-class workers, spending millions of dollars on TV ads filled with images of firefighters, police officers, teachers and nurses.

Celebrities came out on both sides of the campaign, with former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and singer Pat Boone urging voters to retain the law and former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn and the Rev. Jesse Jackson urging them to scrap it.

Labor and business interests poured more than $30 million into the nationally watched campaign, with the law’s opponents far outspending and outnumbering its defenders.

Opponents reported raising $24 million as of mid-October, compared to about $8 million raised by the committee supporting the law, Building a Better Ohio.

Tuesday’s result in the closely divided swing state was expected to resonate from statehouses to the White House ahead of the 2012 presidential election.

Ohio’s bill went further than a similar one in Wisconsin by including police officers and firefighters, and it was considered by many observers to be a barometer of the national mood on the political conundrum of the day: What’s the appropriate size and role of government, and who should pay for it?

Kasich has vowed not to give up his fight for streamlining government despite the loss.

For opponents of the law, its defeat is anticipated to energize the labor movement, which largely supports Democrats, ahead of President Barack Obama’s re-election effort.

Gov. John Kasich says he and other supporters will keep working to persuade voters to keep an Ohio law that limits the bargaining rights of 350,000 public workers, while
a new poll suggests that's going to be hard work.

Gov. John Kasich says he and other supporters will keep working to persuade voters to keep an Ohio law that limits the bargaining rights of 350,000 public workers, while a new poll suggests that’s going to be hard work.

With just two weeks before the vote, the Quinnipiac University poll found that 57% of registered voters want to repeal the law, while 32% want to keep it. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4%.

Kasich says heÂ is undeterred.

“We’re going to keep working. We think this is the right thing to create an environment for cities to be able to be successful; we’re giving them the tools,” he said.

Supporters will make their case again Tuesday night, when a debate on Issue 2 – the ballot question on the collective bargaining law – airs on 89-7 FM andÂ NBC affiliates statewide. The event begins at 7 p.m.

The Quinnipiac University poll surveyed 1,668 registered voters by phone last week. The percentage of respondents opposing the law has almost doubled since a Sept. 27 Quinnipiac poll.

The most recent poll found GOP voters more supportive of union limits, 59% to 32%.Â However, majorities of Ohioans in numerous other categories don’t want the law, according to the poll. They include both men and women, whites and blacks, those making more than $100,000 and those making less, and both those with and without college degrees.

Kasich said the poll – which also showed a widening margin of disapproval with the job he’s doing – will not get him down.Â Â Â Â “Do I seem disheartened? I mean, I’m doing my job,” he said.
“You do your job, you put your best stuff forward, and you live by the outcome.”

He said it has been a campaign of emotion versus facts, and cited “a lot of misinformation” in prompting voters to oppose the bill.

State data reviewed by The Associated Press show eight in 10 unionized government workers in Ohio would pay more toward their health insurance premiums if voters retain a
new collective bargaining law in November.

State data reviewed by The Associated Press show eight in 10 unionized government workers in Ohio would pay more toward their health insurance premiums if voters retain a new collective bargaining law in November.

Figures from the State Employment Relations Board show state workers and many county and health-district employees already pay more than the 15 percent share required under the law. Unionized township and fire district employees pay the lowest percentages on average, between 2.2 percent and 5.6 percent. They would see the biggest jump in costs.

Supporters say having employees pay a bigger share of their health care costs is fair, since private-sector workers already do. Opponents say the arrangements are part of overall salary and benefits packages that were negotiated in good faith.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/10/05/most-ohio-union-workers-affected-by-sb-5-insurance-rule/feed/1Should Lawmakers, Unions Cut Deal On SB5?http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/08/18/should-lawmakers-unions-cut-a-sb-5-deal/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/08/18/should-lawmakers-unions-cut-a-sb-5-deal/#commentsThu, 18 Aug 2011 13:52:04 +0000Mike Thompsonhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/?p=13363Republican leaders, including Governor John Kasich, now want to compromise on the state's new public employee collective bargaining law. Should lawmakers and union leaders compromise and keep the divisive issue off the ballot?

]]>Republican leaders, including Governor John Kasich, now want to compromise on the state’s new public employee collective bargaining law.Â Opponents say no deal, let the voters decide if they want to repeal the limits on public workers unions.Â What do you think?Â Should lawmakers and union leaders compromise and keep the divisiveÂ issue off the ballot?

Ohioans may soon be bombarded with millions of dollars worth of TV ads on that strongly-contested ballot issue that asks whether voters want to keep or kill the new collective bargaining law for public employees. Unions, Democrats, and their allies plan aggressive ads calling for a NO vote, so the law would be wiped out.

Ohioans may soon be bombarded with millions of dollars worth of TV ads on that strongly-contested ballot issue that asks whether voters want to keep or kill the new collective bargaining law for public employees. Unions, Democrats, and their allies plan aggressive ads calling for a NO vote, so the law would be wiped out. Republicans, business advocates, and taxpayer advocates plan a blitz calling for a YES vote, so the law could take effect. But there’s one scenario where this divisive bitter campaign could be avoided. Ohio Public Radio’s Bill Cohen reports on this long-shot idea.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/08/09/whispers-of-compromise-on-senate-bill-5-referendum/feed/0Campaign 2011,collective bargaining lawOhioans may soon be bombarded with millions of dollars worth of TV ads on that strongly-contested ballot issue that asks whether voters want to keep or kill the new collective bargaining law for public employees. Unions, Democrats,Ohioans may soon be bombarded with millions of dollars worth of TV ads on that strongly-contested ballot issue that asks whether voters want to keep or kill the new collective bargaining law for public employees. Unions, Democrats, and their allies plan aggressive ads calling for a NO vote, so the law would be wiped out.WOSU Newsno4:00Board: “No” Vote To Count Against Union Lawhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/08/04/board-no-vote-to-count-against-union-law/
http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/08/04/board-no-vote-to-count-against-union-law/#commentsThu, 04 Aug 2011 21:29:46 +0000Bill Cohenhttp://wosu.org/2012/news/?p=12719

Ohio voters opposed to a new collective bargaining law that limits public employee unions will get to vote "no" at the ballot box this fall, following a decision Wednesday by the state Ballot Board.

Ohio voters opposed to a new collective bargaining law that limits public employee unions will get to vote “no” at the ballot box this fall, following a decision Wednesday by the state Ballot Board.

The decision followed hours of negotiation by Secretary of State Jon Husted, the board’s Republican chairman. It echoes years of Ohio ballot tradition, but also counts as a victory for the law’s opponents. Voters against or confused by an issue tend to vote against it.

Proponents of the law signed by Gov. John Kasich in late March wanted a “yes” to favor repeal of the controversial Senate Bill 5 and a “no” vote to oppose repeal. They argued the committee fighting the law has spent more than $4 million making
clear it is a repeal question.

]]>http://wosu.org/2012/news/2011/08/04/board-no-vote-to-count-against-union-law/feed/0collective bargaining law,John Kasich,jon hustedOhio voters opposed to a new collective bargaining law that limits public employee unions will get to vote "no" at the ballot box this fall, following a decision Wednesday by the state Ballot Board.Ohio voters opposed to a new collective bargaining law that limits public employee unions will get to vote "no" at the ballot box this fall, following a decision Wednesday by the state Ballot Board.WOSU Newsno4:08